MANAGER Carl Heeley says he is willing to be “flexible” with his formation as he aims to keep Worcester City on the right track in Vanarama National League North.

The Blue and Whites started with three at the back for the first time this season on Saturday as they clinched a 1-1 draw at Gainsborough Trinity.

Heeley has often favoured a 4-4-2 formation or gone with a lone striker this term but he was pleased with how his side performed in a 3-4-3.

“We looked at the formation Gainsborough would play and thought we would go three up top,” said Heeley, who put Micah Evans, Jordan Murphy and Steven Craig together in a three-pronged attack.

“We wanted to try to give them a problem with having three defenders and see whether they were brave enough to go one-on-one and it worked to a certain degree. But it is the first time we have done it.

“You need to be flexible and have a little bit of variation in the way you are set up but it was a decent performance.”

With Cieron Keane and Tyler Weir playing on the flanks and Danny Jackman and Junior English in central midfield, versatile Jordan Keane dropped back into defence alongside Graham Hutchison and Tom Sharpe.

Heeley continued: “We look at who we are playing and at what we think are their strengths and weaknesses.

“We try to tailor our personnel and formation to give us the best opportunity to win the game. If you look at the game on Saturday, we could not have done much more.

“I thought we played very well and had more than enough chances to have won at least one game but it wasn’t to be.”

Ashley Worsfold gave Gainsborough the lead inside the opening 10 minutes but Worcester hit back with a header from forward Craig midway through the first half before “dominating” the second period.

“We stressed the importance of starting the game well and conceded a sloppy goal,” the City manager said.

“But it was a great response again and we got ourselves level.

“We would have taken a point before the game but on the balance of play were a little disappointed we had not won it because we were the dominant side for most of the second half.

“We got ourselves in a number of great positions but the final ball let us down a bit.

“We always looked like we could get caught on the counter-attack as well, so we will take a point.”

Worcester, who are in 13th place four points above the relegation zone, take on local rivals Kidderminster Harriers at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground on Boxing Day (3pm).